Wahab Riaz hairline fracture: Is Pakistani fast bowler playing today’s World Cup match vs Afghanistan despite a fracture? | Pakistan vs Afghanistan

Wahab Riaz hairline fracture: Is the Pakistani pacer a part of Pakistan playing 11 vs Afghanistan despite a hairline fracture?

The ‘Mercurial’ Pakistan team- as everybody calls them have finally roared back, sending tremors to teams (especially England) with convincing back to back wins against South Africa and the formidable New Zealand side recently at Birmingham, on Wednesday.

They have now sent massive scares to the English camp, to rob them of the 4th semi-final spot. The ‘Men in Green’ are up against Afghanistan at in a must-win game at Headingly. You know that they mean business, when they are ready to give in everything for the sake of their nation, and the following news is a testimony to the same.

As per the reports prior to the commencement of the ongoing match between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Pakistan’s pacer Wahab Riaz has been included in the Playing 11 despite a possible hairline fracture on one of his right hand fingers.

A major swelling on his right hand

Raza Kitchlew, the team’s media manager, told reporters that Wahab injured his hand while training during a pre-match practice session, but stressed that the injury wasn’t a serious one.

“Wahab had an injury on his right hand. Two of his fingers got hit and now he has swelling on the side of his hand,” he said.

The reason for the left-arm pacer’s inclusion in the team, despite the injury is that it his his non-bowling arm that had to bear the grunt.

There are fears that Wahab has a hairline fracture on one of his fingers but Raza said that it wasn’t confirmed yet.

“Even if there is a hairline fracture it would be a very minor one. Wahab’s injury has been examined by experts and they have given him the go-ahead to play today’s game,” he said.

Decent performance in the World Cup so far

Wahab’s express pace coupled with his experience has paid rich dividends for Pakistan so far in the marquee tournament. He has generally been used as a second fiddle in the team after their star bowler Mohamad Amir, but has bowled decently well, especially in the death overs to prevent teams from finishing on a high.

He has picked up eight wickets in seven matches so far, and had come under the scanner for his selection in the 15-member Pakistan squad for having not played not a single international match since 2017.